Getting Out of the Fast Lane at WDW

by Rick and Gayle Perlmutter
Authors of "Walt
Disney World for Couples"

Feature Article

This article appeared in the
April 23, 2002, Issue #135 of ALL EARS®
(ISSN: 1533-0753)

After you've visited Walt Disney World a few
times, you might be ready for a different
sort of Disney vacation. When we talk with
other Disney lovers, we realize how many
spend their entire vacation running from
attraction to attraction, hurrying to see
everything. Some guide books even feature
itineraries tailored to fit as much as
possible into every waking moment.

We'll admit that this approach makes some
sense, especially if you're new to WDW. With
resort and ticket expenses being what they
are, it only seems natural to feel that
"getting your money's worth" means seeing and
doing as much as possible. But after you've
done that a few times, you might just want to
consider a Disney vacation that's a bit more
relaxed, even a bit romantic. Pull out of the
fast lane and enjoy Walt Disney World the way
we've learned to: savoring it slowly and
carefully, and keeping the pace a relaxed and
leisurely one. Instead of spending every
moment at the theme parks trying to see
everything, simply visit the parks now and
then for a few hours of adventure and
excitement. Spend the rest of your time in
"the slow lane," enjoying a side of Disney
you might not be that familiar with.

What Kind of WDW Vacation Do You Want?

After a decade of furious growth, Walt Disney
World has become too large and too diverse to
see in a single visit (unless you're planning
to settle in for the summer!). There's so
many different things to do that you might
just as well ask yourself, "What kind of
vacation do I want to have at Walt Disney
World?" A sports vacation playing golf or
tennis and taking in some of the spectator
sports at Disney's Wide World of Sports? Or
how about a vacation at the 'beach,' spending
your days in the Florida sun, laying out at
the pool of your resort or playing in one of
the terrific Disney water parks? There's
shopping, fine dining, nightclubbing, movies,
even a variety of water sports. Yes, there's
much more to Disney than a theme park
vacation.

After a decade spent visiting Walt Disney
World (more than 130 nights at Disney resorts
in the last six years), we've come to love
Disney as much for its diversity of fun as
for its theme parks. What keeps us coming
back again and again is the sheer variety of
things to do. Here, then, are a few of our
favorite things to do outside of the parks.
You might not be so familiar with them all,
but you might just want to make some of them
part of your next WDW getaway.

Sammy Duvall's Water Sports Centre

Spend a few hours here at the Contemporary
Resort water-skiing or tubing, or try WDW's
ultimate (and highest) thrill ride:
Parasailing. We spent a morning with the
consummate professionals at Sammy Duvall's
and it was one of the most fun times we've
had at Disney -- or anywhere else! Try
following up your water adventures with an
hour in the couples massage room at The Grand
Floridian Spa. After that, you might be ready
to head back to your resort room and take the
afternoon "off."

Disney's BoardWalk

This is a little theme park of its own and
it's the perfect place to spend an evening.
The Flying Fish Cafè is one of our favorite
WDW dinner spots. Other choices include
Spoodles, ESPN Club, or Big River Grille. Or
you can simply graze the BoardWalk's food
wagons or grab a slice of pizza at Spoodles'
take-out pizza window. After dinner, enjoy
some midway games and some sidewalk
entertainment courtesy of the BoardWalk
Buskers. Be sure to take one of the
BoardWalk's surrey quadri-cycles for a spin
around the lake. These carriage-bikes are
wild fun. There's club-excitement at the
BoardWalk too, with Jellyrolls "duelin'
pianos" or Atlantic Dance Hall, where you can
dance the night away. (There may be admission
charged at these clubs.) Don't forget to make
it out onto Atlantic Dance's second floor
balcony in time to catch Illuminations. Then
finish off the evening with a nightcap at the
Belle Vue Lounge in the Boardwalk Inn. All in
all, you'll discover more than an evening's
worth of fun at the BoardWalk, without long
lines.

Boating Around Walt Disney World

You don't even have to be staying on-property
to rent a boat and get out onto the waters of
WDW. Any one of the marinas at the
Contemporary, the Polynesian, Fort
Wilderness, Wilderness Lodge, or the Grand
Floridian will provide access to both Bay
Lake and the Seven Seas Lagoon, Disney's
largest body of water. This is a really
different perspective of Disney and a
relaxing one, too. Sailors, rent a Hobie Cat
at the Polynesian on a nice blustery day. How
about a leisurely trip through the backwaters
of WDW? Head over to the Marketplace at
Downtown Disney and visit Cap'n Jack's Marina
to rent a boat for a voyage up the Sassagoula
Waterway. See the Treehouse Villa area then
drop in for an island lunch at Olivia's Cafè
at the Old Key West Resort.

Wining and Dining at Disney

For fine dining, our favorites include the
California Grill, Flying Fish Cafè, Jiko,
Cítricos, Victoria & Albert's, and the
upstairs dining room at Wolfgang Puck Cafe.
Our recommendation for the best value in very
good food: The Wolfgang Puck Cafè (main
level, inside). It's fine dining at a
reasonable price and Wolfgang's Cafè is open
for both lunch and dinner. Disney provides
the perfect opportunity to wine and dine your
way around The World and have a free,
designated driver: the Disney transportation
system. Bon Appetit!

Disney's Wide World of Sports

There's always something exciting going on
out here. Depending on when you visit, you
might see a spring training baseball game,
the Harlem Globetrotters, tennis, softball,
or track. Got a football lover in the family?
The NFL Experience (open year-round) is just
the place to have fun and to hone one's
skills in passing and kicking. Spend an
afternoon at the tranquil and beautiful Wide
World of Sports.

Cirque du Soleil

We love this show so much we wish they'd
offer an annual pass. We've seen it twice and
got goosebumps both times. Expensive no
doubt, but truly worth the price. With two
shows nightly, you can have dinner at
Downtown Disney followed by an evening at the
theater. Or enjoy the Gospel Brunch at the
House of Blues and see the Sunday matinee. We
think Cirque will be the highlight of your
Disney vacation.

Stalking the Best of the Best

Of course, we have our opinions about "the
best of Walt Disney World," and we're mostly
talking food and drink, here. Head out in
search of your own Disney superlatives. Ours
include: Best Hotdog: Beaches and Cream Best
Steak: Shula's Best coffee: Forty Thirst
Street Most Exotic Meal: Jiko Best Ice Cream
Cone: Ghirardelli's (the dipped-in-chocolate,
nut-covered extravaganza) at the Disney
Marketplace.

Explore WDW to find your own best burger,
best lobby Christmas decorations, best ice
cream soda, best lounge, and so forth. Make a
list, plot your course, and head out.

From fishing excursions to horseback riding,
there's a World of non-theme park activities
at Walt Disney World. Whatever you do,
throttle back on your next Disney vacation;
spend a few hours in the morning at one of
the attractions, then slip away for an
afternoon of biking or shopping, or enjoy one
of the WDW behind-the-scenes tours. Lay out
at your pool, go on a nature walk, or play
miniature golf. Return to the parks later in
the day, then take a moonlight stroll along
the shores of the Seven Seas Lagoon. Just
remember to visit the theme parks instead of
living in them. It's easy. Just put on your
turn signal, pull over, and savor Walt Disney
World in the slow lane.

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

Editor's Note: This story/information was accurate when it was published. Please be sure to
confirm all current rates, information and other details before planning your trip.